Book of Mormon
Covenant of Christ
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31 And now I, Nephi, make an end of my prophesying unto you, my beloved brethren. And I cannot write but a few things which I know must surely come to pass, neither can I write but a few of the words of my brother Jacob. 2 Wherefore, the things which I have written sufficeth me, save it be a few words which I must speak concerning the doctrine of Christ. Wherefore, I shall speak unto you plainly, according to the plainness of my prophesying. 3 For my soul delighteth in plainness, for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding, for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding. 4 Wherefore, I would that ye should remember that I have spoken unto you concerning that prophet which the Lord shewed unto me that should baptize the Lamb of God, which should take away the sin of the world.
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31 Now I finish my prophesying to you, my dear people. I can only write a few things about what I know will certainly happen, and also a few of my brother Jacob’s words. 2 I’m satisfied with what I’ve written, except for a few words I must say about Christ’s doctrine. Therefore I’ll speak to you clearly and directly so you’ll understand my prophesying. 3 My soul delights in clarity and candor since this is how the Lord God works among mankind. The Lord God gives light to the intellect, speaking to people in their language so they can understand. 4 I want you to remember that I’ve told you about the prophet the Lord showed to me who would baptize the Lamb of God, the Redeemer of this fallen creation.
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5 And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water to fulfill all righteousness, oh, then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water? 6 And now I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfill all righteousness in being baptized by water? 7 Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he sheweth unto the children of men that according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments. 8 Wherefore, after he was baptized with water, the holy ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove. 9 And again, it sheweth unto the children of men the straitness of the path and the narrowness of the gate by which they should enter, he having set the example before them. 10 And he said unto the children of men, Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father? 11 And the Father said, Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son. 12 And also the voice of the Son came unto me, saying, He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the holy ghost like unto me. Wherefore, follow me and do the things which ye have seen me do. 13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ by baptism — yea, by following your Lord and Savior down into the water according to his word — behold, then shall ye receive the holy ghost. Yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the holy ghost, and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.
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5 Now if the Lamb of God, being holy, needed to be baptized by water to fulfill all righteousness, then how much more do we, being unholy, need to be baptized by water! 6 I want to ask you, my dear people, how did the Lamb of God fulfill all righteousness by being baptized by water? 7 Don’t you know that He was holy? However, despite being holy, He showed mankind that in the flesh He humbled Himself before the Father and witnessed to the Father that He was willing to obey Him by keeping His commandments. 8 After He was baptized with water, the Holy Ghost descended upon Him in the form of a dove. 9 This shows mankind the precise path and the exact gate through which they were to enter, since He provides the example for them. 10 He has told mankind: Follow Me. Therefore, my dear people, can we follow Jesus without being willing to keep the Father’s commandments? 11 The Father says: Repent, repent, and be baptized in the name of My Beloved Son. 12 And the voice of the Son also spoke to me, saying: The Father will give the Holy Ghost to those who are baptized in My name, just like He did to Me. Therefore follow Me and do the things you’ve seen Me do. 13 So, my dear people, I know if you follow the Son with all your heart — without being hypocritical or deceptive before God but acting with pure intent, repenting of your sins, showing to the Father you are willing to take upon yourselves the name of Christ by baptism, by following your Lord and Savior down into the water according to His word — then you will receive the Holy Ghost. Then the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost comes, and then you can speak the words of angels and shout praises to the Holy One of Israel.
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14 But behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying, After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the holy ghost, and can speak with a new tongue — yea, even with the tongue of angels — and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me. 15 And I heard a voice from the Father saying, Yea, the words of my beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. 16 And now my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved. 17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shewn unto me: that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the holy ghost. 18 And then are ye in this straight and narrow path which leads to eternal life. Yea, ye have entered in by the gate, ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son, and ye have received the holy ghost, which witness of the Father and the Son unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way, ye should receive.
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14 But, my dear people, the Son’s voice came to me, saying: After you’ve repented of your sins and shown to the Father by the baptism of water that you’re willing to keep My commandments and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost and can speak in a new language — indeed, even in the language of angels — and then you deny Me, it would have been better for you not to have known Me. 15 And I heard the Father’s voice, saying: Yes, the words of My Beloved are true and faithful: Anyone who endures to the end will be saved. 16 Now, my dear people, I know by this that unless a person endures to the end in following the example of the Son of the living God, they can’t be saved. 17 Therefore do the things I’ve told you that I saw your Lord and Redeemer will do. They’ve been shown to me for this purpose, so you’ll know the gate through which you’re to enter. And the gate you’re to enter is repentance and baptism by water, and then a remission of your sins comes by fire and by the Holy Ghost. 18 Then you’re on the straightforward and narrow path that leads to eternal life — indeed, you’ve entered through the gate. You’ve acted in accordance with the commandments of the Father and the Son, and you’ve received the Holy Ghost promised to you once you entered through the way, which testifies of the Father and Son.
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19 And now my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this straight and narrow path, I would ask if all is done. Behold, I say unto you, nay, for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ, with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. 20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
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19 Now, my dear people, after you’ve made your way onto this straightforward and narrow path, I want to ask if everything is done? I tell you: No. Because you’ve only come to this point by Christ’s word, with unshaken faith in Him, relying exclusively on the merits of Him who’s powerful to save. 20 Therefore you must press on resolutely with constancy, purpose, and a firm belief in Christ, having a complete brightness of hope and a love for God and for all mankind. This is what the Father has said: If you press forward, feasting on Christ’s word, and persevere to the end, you will have eternal life.
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21 And now behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under Heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy ghost, which is one God without end. Amen.
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21 Now, my dear people, this is the way. And there’s no other way or name given under heaven by which mankind can be saved in God’s kingdom. This is Christ’s doctrine, and the only true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which are united as one God without end. Amen.